JIM BARNHARDT

Founder of Dream Center Bismarck, Adopt-a-Block & Board Chairman of The Banquet

Jim is married to Cindy, his wife of 12 years, and has two grown daughters, Taylor and Brandy. Jim is a lifelong resident of the Bismarck-Mandan area. He has worked in retail all his adult life, owning and operating a retail store since 1977. Jim considers himself fortunate to have traveled extensively over the years and still believes that Bismarck-Mandan is the best place to live. Having enjoyed outdoor hobbies over the years, Jim's focus for the last four years has shifted. He now has a vision for serving the low income and marginalized people of our community. Jim has served on The Banquet Board of Directors for about four years and as The Banquet Board Chairman for about three years. His thinking is "people are hungry every day" and has made it his goal to lead The Banquet to a 7-days-a-week meal ministry. Jim has joined the Dream Center Network and is currently leading the Dream Center Adopt-a-Block program, linking up with area grocery stores and the Great Plains Food Bank to collect food and then distribute free of charge in local low-income neighborhoods. The end goal has always been to establish a Dream Center in the city of Bismarck, ND with The Banquet meal ministry as the "center of activity".

Jim and wife Cindy have been active in serving at The Banquet and the local homeless shelter in order to maintain a visible presence with residents of the shelter.

Jim is also an active board member of his industry trade association. Locally in his church, Jim serves in the media booth most Sundays, leading the Community Impact ministry and helping to organize and serve at various church functions. In closing, Jim is a believer that no one should be food insecure and the low-income people of our community deserve a chance to improve their life. Jim has semi-retired from his retail business and plans to spend the next several years serving the less fortunate of our community.